From Cancelled planned operations Month ending 30 September 2026 published today: There were 26,484 operations planned to take place across NHS Scotland. This is 4.6% more (+1,162) than the number planned in September 2025 (25,322). Over the course of the last 12 months, from October 2025 to September 2026 (309,720), there was a 5.4% increase (+15,744) compared to the previous 12 months (293,976). This is consistent with the trend of generally increasing numbers of planned operations since March 2021. The last 12 months of planned operations is 7.3% lower (-24,358) than the 12-month period immediately prior to March 2020 when … Continue reading NHS Scotland now at 93% of pre-pandemic operations level

From Police officer quarterly strength statistics: 30 September 2026, published today: There were 16,553 full-time equivalent (FTE) police officers in Scotland on 30 September 2026 This is an increase of 152 FTE police officers (+0.9%) in the last quarter from 30 June 2026 This is an increase of 113 FTE police officers (+0.7%) in the last year from 30 September 2025 This is an increase of 319 FTE police officers (+2.0%) from the 16,234 FTE police officers recorded at 31 March 2007 Source: https://www.gov.scot/publications/police-officer-quarterly-strength-statistics-30–september-2026/ So, overall crime in Scotland is 32% down, almost one third, down on 2007 when the … Continue reading More police officers to tackle 143 675 fewer crimes than under Labour

Print this out and keep it handy for the next time you meet somebody who believes the Labour myth that Scotland is being left behind on nuclear energy. Health Risks German research suppressed by Labour Government and media in 2008 revealed under 5’s living near nuclear plants more than twice as likely to develop leukaemia.[i] The Sellafield Nuclear re-processing plant responsible for levels of radioactivity in Maidens shellfish and in Troon Harbour Seals way above the safe level. [ii] Ayrshire Labour back new nuclear power stations that have made Scotland the ‘Cancer Capital of Europe’ [iii] Researchers revisit study of … Continue reading Slam Dunk! One page of hard evidence why Scotland does not need Labour’s nuclear energy

In the Guardian yesterday: In a quiet suburb on the outskirts of Copenhagen sits a large white house, set back from the road behind a purple-leaved plum tree. It looks much like the rest of the buildings on the street and there is little outward sign this is Josephine Schneider’s House, considered one of the best children’s homes in the world. Danish children’s homes are often cited as the gold standard of children’s residential care globally. They are now being studied by the British government as it tries to create a roadmap out of the crisis in which its own … Continue reading Scotland has long held some of the answers to England’s child care home crisis

I do not mean to be disrespectful here. 15 is 15 too many but readers need to know the truth. First, is this the worsening trend suggested? No: Female homicide in Scotland has been falling in the SNP era to just over half the rate in the last few years. How does this situation compare with England & Wales? How has progress been achieved? See: Continue reading Female homicide is falling steadily in the SNP era